Thomas Knollys | |
|---|---|
 Arms of Knollys | |
| Lord Mayor of London | |
| In office 1410–1410 | |
| Preceded by | Richard Marlowe |
| Succeeded by | Robert Chichele |
| Member of the English Parliament for City of London | |
| In office October 1416 –1417 Servingwith
| |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1350 |
| Died | 1435 |
| Resting place | St. Antholin's |
Sir Thomas Knollys or Knolles (died 1435) was an English businessman in London who was active in both local and national government. [1] [2] [3] [4]
Born about 1350,he was once thought to be descended from the soldier Sir Robert Knollys but modern sources give his father as Richard. There were obviously close links with Sir Robert,who named Thomas as one of his executors in 1389. [3] [4]
Before 1387 he had become a member of the Grocers' Company,which he served as warden and as master,contributing to the building of their new hall in Poultry and to the rebuilding of the guild church of St. Antholin in Watling Street,where he lived. In addition to his main business interests in goods and properties,he also became a major financier,lending extensively to other businessmen and to the government. [3] [4]
In local government,he was an alderman by 1393,Sheriff of London in 1394 and twice served as Lord Mayor in 1399 and in 1410,in his second term being responsible for rebuilding the Guildhall. [3] [4]
In two brief royal appointments,he was collector of customs duties on wool for London in 1400 and joint treasurer of war finances in 1404. [3] [4] In October 1416 he became an MP for the City of London as one of the two aldermanic representatives. [5]
In addition to his London properties,in 1391 he bought and later extended a country estate at North Mimms in Hertfordshire. [3] After 1484,upon the death of his grandson Robert without sons,moieties of the property were inherited by Robert's two daughters:Anne who married Henry Frowick,and Elizabeth the wife of James Stracheley. [6]
He was buried in St Antholin's beside his wife and his will made on 20 May 1435 was proved on 11 July 1435 at Lambeth. [1] [7]
By 1371 he had married Joan (died 1431) who in their sixty years together had nineteen children,of whom four sons and three daughters survived their father. His eldest son Thomas (died 1446),who inherited his businesses and properties,was through his younger son Richard the ancestor of the courtier Sir Francis Knollys. [3] [4]
Richard Whittington of the parish of St Michael Paternoster Royal,City of London,was an English merchant and a politician of the late medieval period. He is also the real-life inspiration for the English folk tale Dick Whittington and His Cat. He was four times Lord Mayor of London,a member of parliament and a Sheriff of London. In his lifetime he financed a number of public projects,such as drainage systems in poor areas of medieval London,and a hospital ward for unmarried mothers. He bequeathed his fortune to form the Charity of Sir Richard Whittington which,nearly 600 years later,continues to assist people in need.
Knollys,Knolles or Knowles,the name of an English family descended from Sir Thomas Knollys,Lord Mayor of London,possibly a kinsman of the celebrated general Sir Robert Knolles. The next distinguished member of the family was Sir Francis Knollys or Knowles,English statesman,son of Sir Robert Knollys,or Knolles,a courtier in the service and favour of Henry VII and Henry VIII. Robert had also a younger son,Sir Henry,who took part in public life during the reign of Elizabeth I and who died in 1583. From the time of Sir Francis,the family were associated with Greys Court at Rotherfield Greys and Caversham Park,then in Oxfordshire,as well as the nearby town of Reading in Berkshire,where the family's private chapel could once be seen in the church of St Laurence.
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